Diagnostic test accuracy for detecting Schistosoma japonicum and S. mekongi in humans: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Most of national schistosomiasis elimination programmes in Asia are relying on stool examination, particularly Kato Katz stool examination technique for regular transmission monitoring. However, the Kato-Katz technique has shown low sensitivity for the detection of light-intensity infections, and therefore highly sensitive diagnostic tools are urgently required to monitor prevalence of infection in low transmission settings. The objective of this systematic review was to evaluate and synthesize the performance of diagnostic tests for detecting Schistosoma japonicum and S. mekongi infection in people living in endemic areas. Methodology/Principal findings We comprehensively searched these nine electronic databases and other resources until July 2019, with no language or publication limits: PubMed, EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of Science, BIOSIS Citation Index, HTA, CINAHL PLUS, The Cochrane Library, and PsycINFO. We included original studies that assessed diagnostic performance using antibody, antigen, and molecular tests with stool examination test as a reference standard. Two reviewers independently extracted a standard set of data and assessed study quality. We estimated the pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity for each index test. We used diagnostic odds ratio to determine the overall accuracy and hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristics (HSROC) curve to assess the index tests performance. Fifteen studies (S. japonicum [n = 13] and S. mekongi [n = 2]) testing 15,303 participants were included in the review. Five studies reported performance of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), seven studies reported indirect hemagglutination assay (IHA), and four studies reported polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detecting S. japonicum. The pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.93 (95% CI: 0.84–0.98) and 0.40 (95% CI: 0.29–0.53) for ELISA, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.90–0.99) and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.58–0.73) for IHA, and 0.89 (95% CI: 0.71–0.96) and 0.49 (95% CI: 0.29–0.69) for PCR respectively. A global summary indicated the best performance for IHA, closely followed by ELISA. We were unable to perform meta-analysis for S. mekongi due to insufficient number of studies. Conclusions/Significance IHA showed the highest detection accuracy for S. japonicum. Further studies are needed to determine the suitable diagnostic methods to verify the absence of transmission of S. mekongi and also to compare detection accuracy against more sensitive reference standards such as PCR.

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Systematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy for the diagnosis of suspected pulmonary embolism

Blood Advances ◽

10.1182/bloodadvances.2019001052 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 4 (18) ◽

pp. 4296-4311

Author(s):

Parth Patel ◽

Payal Patel ◽

Meha Bhatt ◽

Cody Braun ◽

Housne Begum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Pulmonary Embolism ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Pulmonary Angiography ◽

Evaluation Framework ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Assessment Development ◽

Life Threatening ◽

D Dimer

Abstract Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common, potentially life-threatening yet treatable condition. Prompt diagnosis and expeditious therapeutic intervention is of paramount importance for optimal patient management. Our objective was to systematically review the accuracy of D-dimer assay, compression ultrasonography (CUS), computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA), and ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) scanning for the diagnosis of suspected first and recurrent PE. We searched Cochrane Central, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for eligible studies, reference lists of relevant reviews, registered trials, and relevant conference proceedings. 2 investigators screened and abstracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 and certainty of evidence using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation framework. We pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. The review included 61 studies. The pooled estimates for D-dimer sensitivity and specificity were 0.97 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.96-0.98) and 0.41 (95% CI, 0.36-0.46) respectively, whereas CTPA sensitivity and specificity were 0.94 (95% CI, 0.89-0.97) and 0.98 (95% CI, 0.97-0.99), respectively, and CUS sensitivity and specificity were 0.49 (95% CI, 0.31-0.66) and 0.96 (95% CI, 0.95-0.98), respectively. Three variations of pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity of V/Q scan were carried out, based on interpretation of test results. D-dimer had the highest sensitivity when compared with imaging. CTPA and V/Q scans (high probability scan as a positive and low/non-diagnostic/normal scan as negative) both had the highest specificity. This systematic review was registered on PROSPERO as CRD42018084669.

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Emergency department ultrasound for the detection of B-lines in the early diagnosis of acute decompensated heart failure: a systematic review and meta-analysis

CJEM ◽

10.1017/cem.2018.27 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 20 (3) ◽

pp. 343-352 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Kyle McGivery ◽

Paul Atkinson ◽

David Lewis ◽

Luke Taylor ◽

Tim Harris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Failure ◽

Systematic Review ◽

Emergency Department ◽

Lung Ultrasound ◽

Acute Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Decompensated Heart Failure ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

B Lines

AbstractObjectivesDyspnea is a common presenting problem that creates a diagnostic challenge for physicians in the emergency department (ED). While the differential diagnosis is broad, acute decompensated heart failure (ADHF) is a frequent cause that can be challenging to differentiate from other etiologies. Recent studies have suggested a potential diagnostic role for emergency lung ultrasound (US). The objective of this systematic review was to assess the accuracy of early bedside lung US in patients presenting to the ED with dyspnea.MethodsA systematic search of EMBASE, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library was performed in addition to a grey literature search. We selected prospective studies that reported on the sensitivity and specificity of B-lines from early lung ultrasound in dyspneic patients presenting to the ED. Selected studies underwent quality assessment using the Critical Appraisal and Skills Program (CASP) questionnaire.Data Extraction and SynthesisThe search yielded 3674 articles; seven studies met inclusion criteria and fulfilled CASP requirements for a total of 1861 patients. Summary statistics from the meta-analysis showed that as a diagnostic test for ADHF, bedside lung US had a pooled sensitivity of 82.5% (95% confidence interval [CI]=66.4% to 91.8%) and a pooled specificity of 83.6% (95% CI=72.4% to 90.8%).ConclusionsOur results suggest that in patients presenting to the ED with undifferentiated dyspnea, B-lines from early bedside lung US may be reliably used as an adjunct to current diagnostic methods. The incorporation of lung US may lead to more appropriate and timely diagnosis of patients with undifferentiated ADHF.

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Faecal calprotectin to detect inflammatory bowel disease: a systematic review and exploratory meta-analysis of test accuracy

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-027428 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (3) ◽

pp. e027428 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Karoline Freeman ◽

Brian H Willis ◽

Hannah Fraser ◽

Sian Taylor-Phillips ◽

Aileen Clarke

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Primary Care ◽

Inflammatory Bowel Disease ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Bowel Disease ◽

Secondary Care ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Faecal Calprotectin ◽

Inflammatory Bowel

ObjectiveTest accuracy of faecal calprotectin (FC) testing in primary care is inconclusive. We aimed to assess the test accuracy of FC testing in primary care and compare it to secondary care estimates for the detection of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).MethodsSystematic review and meta-analysis of test accuracy using a bivariate random effects model. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library and Web of Science until 31 May 2017 and included studies from auto alerts up until 31 January 2018. Eligible studies measured FC levels in stool samples to detect IBD in adult patients with chronic (at least 6–8 weeks) abdominal symptoms in primary or secondary care. Risk of bias and applicability were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 criteria. We followed the protocol registered as PROSPERO CRD 42012003287.Results38 out of 2168 studies were eligible including five from primary care. Comparison of test accuracy by setting was precluded by extensive heterogeneity. Overall, summary estimates of sensitivity and specificity were not recorded. At a threshold of 50 µg/g, sensitivity from separate meta-analysis of four assay types ranged from 0.85 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.92) to 0.94 (95% CI 0.75 to 0.90) and specificity from 0.67 (95% CI 0.56 to 0.76) to 0.88 (95% CI 0.77 to 0.94). Across three different definitions of disease, sensitivity ranged from 0.80 (95% CI 0.76 to 0.84) to 0.97 (95% CI 0.91 to 0.99) and specificity from 0.67 (95% CI 0.58 to 0.75) to 0.76 (95% CI 0.66 to 0.84). Sensitivity appears to be lower in primary care and is further reduced at a revised threshold of 100 µg/g.ConclusionsConclusive estimates of sensitivity and specificity of FC testing in primary care for the detection of IBD are still missing. There is insufficient evidence in the published literature to support the decision to introduce FC testing in primary care. Studies evaluating FC testing in an appropriate primary care setting are needed.

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Meta-analysis of variable-temperature PCR technique performance for diagnosising Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans in endemic areas

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0010136 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 16 (1) ◽

pp. e0010136

Author(s):

Meng-Tao Sun ◽

Man-Man Gu ◽

Jie-Ying Zhang ◽

Qiu-Fu Yu ◽

Poppy H. L. Lamberton ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Schistosoma Japonicum ◽

Publication Bias ◽

Likelihood Ratio ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Nested Pcr ◽

Diagnostic Performance ◽

Variable Temperature ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Endemic Areas

Background As China is moving onto schistosomiasis elimination/eradication, diagnostic methods with both high sensitivity and specificity for Schistosoma japonicum infections in humans are urgently needed. Microscopic identification of eggs in stool is proven to have poor sensitivity in low endemic regions, and antibody tests are unable to distinguish between current and previous infections. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technologies for the detection of parasite DNA have been theoretically assumed to show high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. However, the reported performance of PCR for detecting S. japonicum infection varied greatly among studies. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis to evaluate the overall diagnostic performance of variable-temperature PCR technologies, based on stool or blood, for detecting S. japonicum infections in humans from endemic areas. Methods We searched literatures in eight electronic databases, published up to 20 January 2021. The heterogeneity and publication bias of included studies were assessed statistically. The risk of bias and applicability of each eligible study were assessed using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies 2 tool (QUADAS-2). The bivariate mixed-effects model was applied to obtain the summary estimates of diagnostic performance. The hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curve was applied to visually display the results. Subgroup analyses and multivariate regression were performed to explore the source of heterogeneity. This research was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines and was registered prospectively in PROSPERO (CRD42021233165). Results A total of 2791 papers were retrieved. After assessing for duplications and eligilibity a total of thirteen publications were retained for inclusion. These included eligible data from 4268 participants across sixteen studies. High heterogeneity existed among studies, but no publication bias was found. The pooled analyses of PCR data from all included studies resulted in a sensitivity of 0.91 (95% CI: 0.83 to 0.96), specificity of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.65 to 0.94), positive likelihood ratio of 5.90 (95% CI: 2.40 to 14.60), negative likelihood ratio of 0.10 (95% CI: 0.05 to 0.20) and a diagnostics odds ratio of 58 (95% CI: 19 to 179). Case-control studies showed significantly better performances for PCR diagnostics than cross-sectional studies. This was further evidenced by multivariate analyses. The four types of PCR approaches identified (convention PCR, qPCR, Digital droplet PCR and nested PCR) differed significantly, with nested PCRs showing the best performance. Conclusions Variable-temperature PCR has a satisfactory performance for diagnosing S. japonicum infections in humans in endemic areas. More high quality studies on S. japonicum diagnostic techniques, especially in low endemic areas and for the detection of dual-sex and single-sex infections are required. These will likely need to optimise a nested PCR alongside a highly sensitive gene target. They will contribute to successfully monitoring endemic areas as they move towards the WHO 2030 targets, as well as ultimately helping areas to achieve these goals.

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Application of the Ipswich Touch Test for diabetic peripheral neuropathy screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2020-046966 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (10) ◽

pp. e046966

Author(s):

Nan Zhao ◽

Jingcan Xu ◽

Qiuhong Zhou ◽

Xinyi Li ◽

Jiarui Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy ◽

Tuning Fork ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Biomedical Literature ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Traditional Methods ◽

Registration Number

ObjectiveDiabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is one of the most important risk factors of diabetic foot ulcers, and early screening and treatment of DPN are crucial. The Ipswich Touch Test (IPTT) is a new method for screening for DPN and, compared with traditional methods, is more simple to operate and requires no equipment. However, the screening accuracy of IPTT in patients with DPN has not been well characterised. We aim to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterise the sensitivity and specificity of IPTT compared with traditional methods and to understand the potential screening value of IPTT.DesignSystematic review and meta-analysis.Data sourcesPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database up to 16 April 2020.MethodsStata V.15.1 software was used for analysis, and the screening value of IPTT in DPN was described using 10 g monofilament (10g-MF), neuropathy disability scores (NDS), Pin prick, 128 Hz tuning fork, and ankle reflex as reference standards. Sensitivity, specificity and other measures of accuracy of IPTT for screening DPN were pooled based on a quality effects model. The protocol was registered with PROSPERO (42020168420).ResultsOf the 441 records retrieved, 7 studies were evaluated for the screening value of IPTT. Five studies with 10g-MF as the reference standard were included in the meta-analysis, and the pooled sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 (95％CI 0.69–0.84) and 0.96(95％CI 0.93–0.98), respectively, and the area under curve was 0.897. Compared with vibration perception threshold, IPTT showed a sensitivity between 0.76 and 1, and a specificity between 0.90 and 0.97. Compared with NDS, IPTT showed a sensitivity between 0.53 and 1, and a specificity between 0.90 and 0.97. Compared with Pin prick, IPTT showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.8 and 0.88, respectively. Compared with 128 Hz tuning fork, IPTT showed a sensitivity and specificity of 0.4 and 0.27, respectively. Compared with ankle reflex, IPTT had a sensitivity of 0.2 and a specificity of 0.97.ConclusionsIPTT shows a high degree of agreement with other commonly used screening tools for DPN screening. It can be used clinically, especially in remote areas and in primary medical institutions, and by self-monitoring patients. More high-quality studies are needed to assess and promote more effective screening practices.PROSPERO registration numberRegistration Number is CRD (42020168420).

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Intraoperative evoked potential monitoring for detecting cerebral injury during adult aneurysm clipping surgery: a systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-022810 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. e022810 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Fang Zhu ◽

Jason Chui ◽

Ian Herrick ◽

Janet Martin

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Diagnostic Test ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Evoked Potential ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Cerebral Injury ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Worst Case ◽

Aneurysm Clipping ◽

Point Estimates

ObjectivesWe aim to evaluate the diagnostic test accuracy (DTA) of intraoperative evoked potential (EP) monitoring to detect cerebral injury during clipping of cerebral aneurysms.DesignSystematic review.Data sourcesMajor electronic databases including MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS.Eligibility criteriaWe included studies that reported the DTA of intraoperative EP monitoring during intracranial aneurysm clipping procedures in adult patients.Data extraction and synthesisAfter quality assessment, we performed a meta-analysis using the bivariate random effects model, and calculated the possible range of DTA point estimates using a new best-case/worst-case scenario approach to quantify the impact of rescue intervention on DTA.ResultsA total of 35 studies involving 4011 patients were included. The quality of the primary studies was modest and the heterogeneity across studies was high. The pooled sensitivity and specificity for predicting postoperative neurological deficits for the somatosensory evoked potential (SSEP) monitoring was 59% (95% CI: 39% to 76%; I2: 76%) and 86% (95% CI: 77% to 92%; I2: 94%), for motor evoked potential (MEP) monitoring was 81% (95% CI: 58% to 93%; I2: 54%) and 90% (95% CI: 86% to 93%; I2: 81%), and for combined SSEP and MEP monitoring was 92% (95% CI: 62% to 100%) and 88% (95% CI: 83% to 93%). The best-case/worst-case range for the pooled point estimates for sensitivity and specificity for SSEP was 50%–63% and 81%–100%, and for MEP was 59%–74% and 93%–100%, and for combined SSEP and MEP was 89%–94% and 83%–100%.ConclusionsDue to the modest quality and high heterogeneity of the existing primary studies, it is not possible to confidently support or refute the diagnostic value of EP monitoring in cerebral aneurysm clipping surgery. However, combined SSEP and MEP appears to provide the best DTA for predicting postoperative stroke. Contrary to popular assertion, the modest sensitivity of SSEP monitoring is not explained by the use of rescue intervention.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42015016884.

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Is jaw fractal dimension a reliable biomarker for osteoporosis screening? A systematic review and meta-analysis of diagnostic test accuracy studies

Dentomaxillofacial Radiology ◽

10.1259/dmfr.20210365 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Davi de Sá Cavalcante ◽

Paulo Goberlânio de Barros Silva ◽

Francisco Samuel Rodrigues Carvalho ◽

Ana Rosa Pinto Quidute ◽

Lúcio Mitsuo Kurita ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Fractal Dimension ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Grey Literature ◽

High Sensitivity ◽

Total Sample ◽

Control Group ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Osteoporosis Screening

Objective: To summarize the evidence on the feasibility of maxillomandibular imaging exams-related fractal dimension (FD) in screening patients with osteoporosis. Methods: This registered systematic review followed the PRISMA-DTA statement. High sensitivity search strategies were developed for six primary databases and grey literature. QUADAS-2 items evaluated the risk of bias, and the GRADE approach assessed the evidence certainty. Results: From 1,034 records initially identified through database searching, four studies were included (total sample of 747 patients [osteoporosis, 136; control group, 611]). The meta-analysis showed that the overall sensitivity and specificity of the FD were 86.17 and 72.68%, respectively. In general, all studies showed low RoB and applicability concern. The certainty of the evidence was very low to moderate. Conclusions: This systematic review showed that the jaw-related FD presented sensitivity and specificity values higher than 70%, and its sensitivity in osteoporosis screening was a better parameter than specificity.

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Exposure to toxic occupations and their association with Parkinson’s disease: a systematic review with meta-analysis

Reviews on Environmental Health ◽

10.1515/reveh-2021-0111 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 0 (0) ◽

Author(s):

Tamara Chambers-Richards ◽

Yingying Su ◽

Batholomew Chireh ◽

Carl D’Arcy

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Medical Records ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Significant Risk ◽

Occupational Exposures ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Cochrane Library ◽

Icd Codes

Abstract Objectives Earlier longitudinal reviews on environmental and occupational toxins and Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk have limitations. This study aimed to determine the strength of association between three types of toxic occupational exposures and the occurrence of PD by diagnostic methods. Methods A search was conducted of EMBASE, PubMed/Medline, Toxnet, LILACS, and Cochrane Library databases for longitudinal studies that assessed toxic occupational exposure, Parkinsonian, or related disorders, diagnosed by International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes, medical records, or confirmation by a neurologist/nurse, and published in the English language from January 1990 to July 2021. Pooled risk ratios (RR) estimates were produced using random-effects models. Systematic review with meta-analysis synthesized the results. Study quality, heterogeneity, and publication bias were examined. High-quality articles that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Results Twenty-four articles were used in the analyses. The pooled RR for electromagnetic exposure and PD were (RR=1.03, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.91–1.16) while the pooled RR between PD and metal and pesticide exposure were (RR=1.07, 95% CI 0.92–1.24) and (RR=1.41, 95% CI 1.20–1.65), respectively. Pooled RR for methods of diagnosis and their associations with PD were: confirmation by a neurologist or nurse (RR=2.17, 95% CI 1.32–3.54); ICD codes (RR=1.14, 95% CI 1.03–1.26), and medical records (RR=1.06, 95% CI 0.92–1.21). Conclusions Our systematic review provides robust evidence that toxic occupational exposures are significant risk factors for PD especially those diagnosed by neurologists or nurses using standardized methods.

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Intestinal parasites among intellectually disabled individuals in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Gut Pathogens ◽

10.1186/s13099-021-00424-6 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Mohammad Javad Abbaszadeh Afshar ◽

Mehdi Mohebali ◽

Sina Mohtasebi ◽

Aref Teimouri ◽

Bahareh Sedaghat ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Intestinal Parasites ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Personal Hygiene ◽

Stool Examination ◽

Parasitic Infections ◽

Forest Plot ◽

Intellectually Disabled ◽

Pooled Prevalence

Abstract Background Poor self-care skills and personal hygiene resulted from limitations in learning and understanding, put intellectually disabled individuals at greater risk for intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs). Despite several regional reports in Iran, the overall burden on IPIs among intellectually disabled individuals is poorly understood. Hence, the present study aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence of IPIs among intellectually disabled individuals in Iran. Methods Using the PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of data retrieved from seven electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and ProQuest for English articles, as well as SID and Magiran for Persian) from their inception up to December 2020. Pooled prevalence was estimated using a random-effects model with a 95% confidence interval (CI) and depicted as a forest plot, while heterogeneity was evaluated using Cochran’s Q-test. Results Exactly 1263 of the 3004 intellectually disabled individuals examined by 14 studies across 10 provinces of Iran were positive for IPIs. Overall pooled prevalence estimate was 41% (95% CI 29–53%) with a range of 21% (95% CI 10–32%) to 68% (95% CI 55–80%) across sub-groups. Entamoeba coli (16.2%; 95% CI 10.3–22%), Blastocystis spp. (12.2%; 95% CI 7.2–17.2%), and Giardia duodenalis (11.9%; 95% CI 7.4–16.3%) were the most prevalent protozoan species. In terms of helminthic agents, the most prevalent species were Enterobius vermicularis (11.3%; 95% CI 6.3–16.3%) followed by Strongyloides stercoralis (10.9%; 95% CI 5.0–16.9%) and Hymenolepis nana (2.8%; 95% CI 0.4–5.2%) Conclusion IPIs are highly prevalent among intellectually disabled individuals in Iran. Improving the health status and implementing infectious disease prevention strategies in rehabilitation centers, health promotion interventions to improve personal hygiene of intellectually disabled individuals, as well as utilize sensitive diagnostic methods besides routine stool examination techniques, and treatment of infected individuals will help in the control of these infections among intellectually disabled individuals.

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Bleeding Assessment Tools in the Diagnosis of von Willebrand Disease: Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis of Test Accuracy

Blood Advances ◽

10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004368 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Mohamad A. Kalot ◽

Nedaa Husainat ◽

Sammy Tayiem ◽

Abdallah El Alayli ◽

Ahmad Bilal Dimassi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Systematic Review ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Pediatric Patients ◽

Screening Tool ◽

Reference Lists ◽

Meta Analysis ◽

Von Willebrand Disease ◽

Assessment Tools ◽

Test Accuracy ◽

Von Willebrand

Background: Von Willebrand Disease (VWD) can be associated with significant morbidity. Patients with VWD can experience bruising, mucocutaneous bleeding, and bleeding after dental and surgical procedures. Early diagnosis and treatment are important to minimize the risk of these complications. Several bleeding assessment tools (BATs) have been used to quantify bleeding symptoms as a screening tool for VWD. Objective: We systematically reviewed diagnostic test accuracy results of bleeding assessment tools (BATs) to screen patients for VWD. Methods: We searched Cochrane Central, MEDLINE, and EMBASE for eligible studies, reference lists of relevant reviews, registered trials, and relevant conference proceedings. Two investigators screened and abstracted data. Risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2 and certainty of evidence using the GRADE framework. We pooled estimates of sensitivity and specificity. Results: The review included 7 cohort studies that evaluated the use of BATs to screen adult and pediatric patients for VWD. The pooled estimates for sensitivity and specificity were 75% (95% confidence interval [CI] 66%-83%) and 54% (29%-77%), respectively. Certainty of evidence varied from moderate to high. Conclusion: This systematic review provides accuracy estimates for validated BATs as a screening modality for VWD. A BAT is a useful initial screening test to determine who needs specific blood testing. The pretest probability of VWD (often determined by the clinical setting/patient population), along with sensitivity and specificity estimates will influence patient management.

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